Turn cranberries into chemistry, engage in fruitcake physics, and find out what happens to whipped cream when it’s dropped in liquid nitrogen. Bring the family and kick off the holiday season with extraordinary demonstrations and festive arts and crafts. Science and art activities will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, and are included with Discovery Center general admission. Free science demonstrations will take place at noon and 2 p.m.

Get an indoor look at the night sky in the planetarium each of these days at 1 and 3 p.m. Planetarium tickets are $1 each; 50 cents for members.

Discovery Center is inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., downtown Rockford. Admission is $8 adults, $8 children ages 2-17, and free to members and children 1 and younger.